Lance Naik Khairnar had an uphill task. Intense shelling from Pakistan in the Kargil sector had caused immense damage to the telephone lines. Khairnar, along with three other, was detailed to work on the disrupted lines and restore connections at around 8.30 a.m. on Monday. He went to the lines under heavy Pakistani fire and managed to restore them. But the shelling suddenly resumed and Khairnar and his colleague Lance Naik R K Sahu were hit directly by an artillery shell. Both were airlifted to Srinagar Base Hospital. They succumbed to their injuries.

Khairnar is from Deughat village in Malegaon taluka of Nashik district . He is survived wife Rekha and father Chetram Sahadu Khairnar.

Lance Naik Sonawane met a similar fate in Poonch, Rajouri sector, while conducting battle and search operations. Sonawane, who belongs to the 16 Maratha Light Infantry was attached to the 27 Rashtriya Rifles. His unit received information about infiltration supported by intense shelling. The unit immediately moved to conduct cordon and search operations. The infiltrators fired from positions above them killing Sonawane. Sonawane is a resident of Kaji vilage in Chandwad tehsil, Nashik district. Passions ran high in the city this evening as the news of the battle casualties spread.

Divisional Commissioner Rajiv Agarwal, district collector Vijaykumar Gautam, Pimpri-Chinchwad Mayor Madhukar Pawale, Deputy Mayor of Pune Mahadev Babar, Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Paigude, Patit Pawan Sanghatana coordinator Sandeep Khardekar laid wreaths as a mark of respect. A wreath was laid on behalf of friends of the War Memorial Committee by its gonvenor Shashikant Mehendale.